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Voyage of H.M.S. 'Pandora'

CAPTAIN EDWARDS' REPORTS. (continued 2)

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Sir,

Your most humble and obedient servant, Edw. Edwards.

Philip Stevens Esq."

"Cape of Good Hope, 19th March, 1792.

Sir,

Agreeable to my intentions which I did myself the honour to signify to you in a letter addressed from Batavia and sent by a Dutch packet bound to Europe, I embarked the remainder of the Company of His Majesty's ship Pandora, pirates late belonging to the Bounty and the convicts deserters from Port Jackson, on board three Dutch East India ships as follows:—

Myself, the master, Purser, Gunner, Clerk, two midshipmen, twentyone seamen, and ten pirates on board the Vreedenburg, bound to Amsterdam.

Lt. Corner, the surgeon, three midshipmen, fourteen seamen, and half the convicts on board the Horssen, bound to Rotterdam, and Lt. Hayward, the boatswain, surgeon's mate, three midshipmen, fifteen seamen and the other half of the convicts on board the Hoornwey, bound to Rotterdam.

Lt. Larkin with two petty officers and eighteen seamen were embarked on board the Zwan and sailed from Batavia previous to the date of my former letter, and I am now informed that she has been at this port and sailed from hence for Europe more than a month before my arrival.

I found His Majesty's Ship Gorgon here on her return from Port Jackson, and on account both of expedition and greater security I intend to avail myself of the opportunity to embark on board of her with the ten pirates for England, and I request that you will be pleased to communicate the circumstances to My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant, Edw. Edwards."

"Admiralty Office, June, 19th 1792.

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you that I found His Majesty's Ship Gorgon at the Cape of Good Hope on my arrival there in the Vreedenburg, a Dutch East India Company's ship, from Batavia, and I thought it proper to remove the pirates late belonging to His Majesty's armed vessel, the Bounty, and the convicts, deserters from Port Jackson (whom I had under my charge on board the Dutch East India Company's ships) into His Majesty's said ship, for their greater security, and I took the same opportunity myself to embark on board on her for England and I hope that these steps will be approved of by their Lordships.

I gave you an account of my arrival at the Cape of Good Hope and of my intentions to embark on board the Gorgon with the pirates, convicts, &c. in a letter which I did myself the honour to address to you from thence and sent by the Baring, Thomas Fingey, Master, an American ship bound to Ostend.

Inclosed is the state of the company of His Majesty's Ship Pandora at the time I left the Cape of Good Hope, and the manner in which they were disposed of on board Dutch East India Company's ships in order to be brought to Europe and also a list of the pirates late belonging to the Bounty, and of the convicts, deserters from Port Jackson, delivered to me by Mr. Wanjon, the Governor of the Dutch settlements in the island of Timor, now on board His Majesty's Ship Gorgon.

I arrived yesterday evening at St. Helens, left the Gorgon, and landed at Portsmouth last night and I am now at this office awaiting their Lordships' Commands.

And I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant, Edw. Edwards.

Philip Stevens, Esq."

A list of convicts, deserters from Port Jackson, delivered to Captain Edward Edwards of His Majesty's Ship Pandora by Timotheus Wanjon, Governor of the Dutch Settlements at Timor, 5th October, 1791.

William Allen, On board H.M.S. Gorgon.

John Butcher, On board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Nathaniel Lilley, On board H.M.S. Gorgon.

James Martin, On board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Mary Bryant. Transported by the name of Mary Broad. On board H.M.S. Gorgon.

William Morton, Dd on board Dutch East India Co.'s ship, Hoornwey.

William Bryant, Dd 22nd December 1791, Hospital Batavia.

James Cox, Dd, fell overboard Straits of Sunda.

John Simms, Dd on board Dutch East India Co.'s ship Hoornwey.

Children of the above William and Mary Bryant. Emanuel Bryant, Dd 1st December 1791, Batavia. Charlotte Bryant, Dd 6th May 1792 on board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Edw. Edwards.

A list of one Petty Officer and four Seamen lost in a cutter belonging to His Majesty's Ship Pandora, at Palmerston's Island on the 24th May, 1791.

John Sival, Midshipman.

James Good, Seamen.

William Wasdel, Seamen.

James Scott, Seamen.

Joseph Cunningham, Seamen.

Edw. Edwards.

List of Pirates late belonging to His Majesty's ship Bounty taken by His Majesty's Ship Pandora, Captain Edward Edwards, at Otaheite.

Joseph Coleman, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Peter Haywood, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Michael Burn, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

James Morrison, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Charles Norman, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Thomas Ellison, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Thomas MacIntosh, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

William Muspratt, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

Thomas Burkitt, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

John Millward, On Board H.M.S. Gorgon.

George Stewart, 29th August 1791, lost with ship.

Richard Skinner, 29th August 1791, lost with ship.

Henry Heilbrant, 29th August 1791, lost with ship.

John Sumner, 29th August 1791, lost with ship.

(Signed) Edward Edwards.

State of the Company of H.M.S. Pandora, Captain Edward Edwards: and the manner disposed of on board Dutch East India Company's Ships for their voyage to Europe.

Com. Off. & Master.Warrant Officers.Petty Officers.Seamen.

Zwan, Lt. John Larkan,1 217

Horssen, Lt. Robert Corner,11213

Mr. George Hamilton Surgeon.

Hornwey, Lt. Thos. Hayward,

John Cunningham, Boatswain,11214

Vreedenberg, Mr. G. Passmore, Master,

Mr. Gregory Bentham, Purser, Mr. Jos.12118

Parker gunner and 1 Supernumary belonging to H.M. armed vessel Supply.

Hospital at Batavia, 1

H.M.S. Gorgon, Captain Edwards,1 21

54964

Whole Number borne,82

Died since ship was lost,16

Discharged,1

——

Whole number Ship's company saved in ship and tender99

Supernumaries.

Do. Pirates,10

Convicts, 4 men and 1 woman5

Edward Edwards.

"No. 8, Craven Street, Strand, 9th July, 1792.

Sir,

I beg leave to acquaint you that I have information that the Vreedenburg and the Horssen, two Dutch East India Company's ships, on board of which part of the company of His Majesty's ship Pandora are embarked, were off the Start on the 5th of this month, on their way to Holland, and that the Hoornwey, the ship on board which the remainder of the company of the Pandora were embarked, was expected to sail from the Cape of Good Hope in about three weeks after the two former ships left that place, but the account does not mention the day they left the Cape themselves.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant, Edward Edwards."

List of islands and places discovered by H.M.S. Pandora, with their latitudes and longitudes.

Names of Islands.Lat. S.Long. W.

Ducie Island,24° 40′ 30″124° 40′ 30″

Lord Hood's Island,21° 31′ 00″135° 32′ 30″

Carysfort Island,20° 49′ 00″138° 33′ 00″

Duke of Clarence Island,9° 09′ 30″171° 30′ 46″

Otewhy or Chatham,13° 32′ 30″172° 18′ 25″

Howe's Isles,18° 32′ 30″173° 53′ 00″

Gardener's Isles,17° 57′ 00″175° 16′ 54″

Bickerton's Isle,18° 47′ 40″174° 48′ 00″

Onooafow or Probys Isle,15° 53′ 00″175° 51′ 00″

Rotumah or Grenville Isles,12° 29′ 00″183° 03′ 00″

Pandora's Bank,12° 11′ 00″188° 08′ 00″

Mitre Island,11° 49′ 00″190° 04′ 30″

Cherry Island,11° 37′ 30″190° 19′ 30″

Pitt's Isle (South Point),11° 50′ 30″193° 14′ 05″

Wells Shoal on reef,12° 20′ 00″202° 02′ 00″

Cape Rodney,10° 03′ 32″212° 14′ 05″

Mount Clarence between the two Orayas.

Cape Hood,9° 58′ 06″212° 37′ 10″

Look Out Shoal.

Stoney Reef Islands.

Murray's Islands,9° 57′ 00″216° 43′ 00″

Wreck Reef.

Escape Key,11° 23′ 00″

Entrance Key,11° 23′ 00″

Edward Edwards.

A list of 14 pirates, belonging to H.M.S. late ship Bounty, taken at Otaheite.

Joseph Coleman.

Peter Haywood.

Michael Byrne.

James Morrison.

Charles Norman.

Thomas Ellison.

Thomas M'Intosh.

William Muspratt.

Thomas Burkitt.

John Millward.

George Stewart, D/d drowned August 29th 1791.

Richard Skinner, D/d drowned August 29th 1791.

Henry Hillbrant, D/d drowned August 29th 1791.

John Sumner, D/d drowned August 29th 1791.

Edward Edwards.

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